OMAHA — Homer senior Austin Pelster was hoping to make history for his school as the Knights’ first state wrestling finalist.
Those dreams came up short, however, as Burwell’s Kolton Thoene scored a late takedown for a 2-1 win over Pelster in the Class D 157-pound semifinals Friday at the Nebraska Boys State Wrestling Championships.
Pelster managed a late escape in the second period to lead 1-0 going into the final two minutes. He was called for stalling early in the third, but continued to maintain control until a scramble by Thoene turned the tables. Thoene scored the two-point reversal with about :25 left and was able to ride Pelster the rest of the way to hand Pelster the semifinal defeat.
Pelster, 39-5, will come back Saturday to wrestle in the consolation semifinals and is guaranteed no worse than a sixth-place medal.
In other action Friday, South Sioux City senior Adrian Curiel and Tri County Northeast senior Nate Franzluebbers both came up a match short of the medal stand with disappointing losses in the third-round consolations.
Curiel, who won his opening-round match in Class A at 215 pounds before a quarterfinal loss Thursday, earned a 7-2 decision over Connor Barges of Creighton Prep Friday before being pinned midway through the second period by Ryan Boehle of Grand Island. The senior ended the season with a 45-5 record.
Franzluebbers had a chance to post the unusual three-win day in the consolations after a first-round loss in Class D 285 pounds on Thursday. He got a pin in the first consolation match Friday afternoon and won a second with a 9-2 win over Lance Stange of Creighton, but his hopes were quickly dashed as Meridian’s Kyan Sones put him to his back early and pinned him in 10 seconds, ending his senior campaign at 37-17.
South Sioux City’s Bodey Bligh got a win by injury default in the consolation Friday after a first-round loss in Class A 165-pound action Thursday, but was eliminated after a first-period pin in the second round consolation to end his senior season at 19-19.
TCNE junior 126-pounder Landon Newton went 0-2 in his bracket, losing in the opening round Thursday and dropping a 16-2 major decision on Friday to Cameron Fisher of Ravenna.
Area Results (Through Friday)
South Sioux City
Bodey Bligh (A165, 19-19, Sr.)
• Champ. Round 1 - Michael Furze (Papillion-LaVista) 37-6 won by fall over Bodey Bligh (South Sioux City) 19-19 (Fall 0:57)
• Cons. Round 1 - Bodey Bligh (South Sioux City) 19-19 won by medical forfeit over Chase A. Myers (Omaha Westside) 27-4 (M. For.)
• Cons. Round 2 - Ben McAllister (Millard West) 47-4 won by fall over Bodey Bligh (South Sioux City) 19-19 (Fall 0:27)
Season completed.
Adrian Curiel (A215, 45-5, Sr.)
• Champ. Round 1 - Adrian Curiel (South Sioux City) 45-5 won by fall over Henry Witte (Lincoln Southeast) 36-15 (Fall 3:07)
• Quarterfinal - Will Rathjen (North Platte) 42-5 won in the ultimate tie breaker over Adrian Curiel (South Sioux City) 45-5 (UTB 3-2)
• Cons. Round 2 - Adrian Curiel (South Sioux City) 45-5 won by decision over Connor Barges (Creighton Prep) 27-17 (Dec 7-2)
• Cons. Round 3 - Ryan Boehle (Grand Island) 38-6 won by fall over Adrian Curiel (South Sioux City) 45-5 (Fall 2:06)
Season completed.
Homer
Austin Pelster (D157, 39-5 Sr.)
• Champ. Round 1 - Austin Pelster (Homer) 39-5 won by decision over Zack Roach (Amherst) 34-13 (Dec 4-3)
• Quarterfinal - Austin Pelster (Homer) 39-5 won by major decision over Cazen Smith (Twin Loup) 40-7 (MD 11-3)
• Semifinal - Kolton Thoene (Burwell) 40-7 won by decision over Austin Pelster (Homer) 39-5 (Dec 2-1)
Wrestles in consolation semifinals on Saturday.
Tri County NE
Landon Newton (D126, 31-16, Jr.)
• Champ. Round 1 - Phillip Titkemeier (Loomis) 46-10 won by fall over Landon Newton (Tri County Northeast) 31-16 (Fall 2:46)
• Cons. Round 1 - Cameron Fisher (Ravenna) 35-19 won by major decision over Landon Newton (Tri County Northeast) 31-16 (MD 16-2)
Season completed.
Nate Franzluebbers (D285, 37-17, Sr.)
• Champ. Round 1 - Trey Downey (Arapahoe) 39-13 won by decision over Nate Franzluebbers (Tri County Northeast) 37-17 (Dec 5-0)
• Cons. Round 1 - Nate Franzluebbers (Tri County Northeast) 37-17 won by fall over Antonio Iannone (Kenesaw) 17-15 (Fall 4:20)
• Cons. Round 2 - Nate Franzluebbers (Tri County Northeast) 37-17 won by decision over Lance Stange (Creighton) 35-9 (Dec 9-2)
• Cons. Round 3 - Kyan Sones (Meridian) 54-2 won by fall over Nate Franzluebbers (Tri County Northeast) 37-17 (Fall 0:10)
Season completed.
